What the $@#%&* ? Here's why you won't find any F-Bombs in A Place for Murder

One of the questions I am frequently asked at book signings is if my stories are suitable for young readers. The question usually comes from a mom or grandmother who asks it with a wary eye.

Good question.

In today’s culture, shocking or vulgar language is commonly tossed around in literature, music, movies, art and social media. It seems as though many artists believe they have to include a requisite number of F-Bombs, or their colorful, descriptive and often angry derivatives, to make their work authentic, or real.

Well, I disagree for a couple of different reasons.

You won’t find F-Bombs, graphic sex or explicit violence in any of my stories. Now, that may stop some of you in your tracks and prompt you to ask yourself: No graphic sex or violence? Why the hell would I want to read boring crap like that?

My response is that vulgar language and gratuitous sex and violence are handy tools for lazy writers with poor imaginations and crude writing skills.

Ok, now that I’ve offended roughly half the writers in America, please allow me to explain.

I simply do not believe raw language or scenes are necessary for skilled writers who know how to tell a good story. I also believe that the shock value of such language often gets in the way of effective communication.

Additionally, vulgar language is not commonly used in day-to-day conversation unless you happen to be speaking with a knuckle-dragging lowlife who simply does not know a better mode of expression.

Think about it. When was the last time you heard someone blast out the F-Bomb? Where were you, and who were you with?

That’s my point. Filthy, guttural language does not routinely come up in every day discussion – at least not in my circles, and I’m guessing they do not come up in yours very often, either.

So, why would I want to include dialogue or narrative, laced with verbal nastiness, in my stories?

Another reason I don’t go for vile, disgusting language or scenes in my books is because I don’t want to limit the potential audience at the younger or older ends of the scale. Lots of readers, both young and old, don’t care for the frequent use of Hard K words.

I want my books open and inviting to all readers, regardless of age.

One of my good friends from high school recently sent me a note on Facebook asking if my stories would be OK for his 9-year-old granddaughter to read. She’s a voracious reader, he says, and always looking for new stories.

My books carry adult themes and some mild profanity, I responded, but no nasty, crude language, sex or violence.

My buddy’s granddaughter is a type of reader I want to capture, not block because I couldn’t come up with decent descriptive adjectives and verbs.

I guess the real question is this: Does anybody out there give a damn? I’m betting they do.
A Place for Murder